THE Zambia Police Service has attempted to justify why it did not publicly advertise vacancies ahead of its latest recruitment exercise, saying the process was meant to fill positions created by retirements, resignations and attrition, while also prioritising qualified civilian employees already working within the institution. But instead of calming public concern, that explanation has only exposed a worrying culture of secrecy in the handling of public jobs. Police jobs are public jobs. That is the first principle which must not be lost in all this explanation. The Zambia Police Service is not a private family enterprise where vacancies can be shared quietly among insiders. It is a public institution funded by taxpayers, and every job opportunity under it must,...